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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works - 2001-04-09PUBLIC WORKS & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 9, 2001CITY OF KITCHENER The Public Works and Transportation Committee met this date commencing at 9:05 a.m., Chaired by Councillor J. Smola, with the following members present: Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors J. Zeigler, G. Lorentz, M. Galloway, B. Vrbanovic and C. Weylie. Officials Present:Ms. P. Houston and Messrs. R.W. Pritchard, S. Gyorffy, B. Stanley, L. Lynch, J. McBride and L.W. Neil. PW-01-045 - CHURCH STREET LIGHTING 1. The Committee was in receipt of Public Works Department report PW-01-045 dated April 6, 2001 prepared for purposes of information and direction to staff in response to concerns relative to the adequacy of street lighting on Church Street expressed by Mrs. Jacqueline Marsh at the April 2, 2001 Council Meeting. The planned reconstruction of Church, Eby and St. George Streets this summer prompted this concern which relates to a tight work schedule intended to begin May 8, 2001. The staff report describes the public consultation process that has taken place, existing lighting conditions on the streets, current lighting policy and recent meetings with neighbourhood residents. As well, financial implications of ‘Residential’ street and ‘Neighbourhood Link’ street as defined in the Downtown Lighting Study are set out in addition to financing alternatives. Upgrade to the residential street standard with metal halide luminaires would cost $36,000., whereas the neighbourhood link standard would cost $481,000. with new luminaires retrofitted on one side and new pedestrian level standards and lights on the opposite side of each street. Councillor C. Weylie advised that three meetings had taken place recently with City staff in response to residents lighting concerns. She then referred to a two page handout distributed this date describing in detail existing conditions on each of the three streets and proposed options with cost breakdowns for improvement to the residential standard (option #1) or the neighbourhood link standard (option #2). Mrs. Jacqueline Marsh appeared as a delegation regarding this matter and first thanked staff for the response to their concerns. She requested St. George Street be upgraded to the residential standard and Church/Eby Streets be upgraded to the neighbourhood link standard. Ms. Trudy Beaulne appeared as a delegation given her past experience as a member of the Safe City Committee. She advised that the Safe City Committee focus was that improvements in the Downtown should focus on pedestrians and suggested that lighting upgrade in this area be utilized a pilot project for later evaluation as to its applicability to the rest of the City. Ms. Sally Gunz appeared as a delegation to speak on this issue from the perspective of the Cedar Hills neighbourhood. She strongly favoured upgrading Church and Eby Streets to a neighbourhood link standard given high pedestrian traffic and noted that perception was an important symbol in regards to a feeling of additional safety provided by enhanced lighting. Ms. Gunz commented that there was no difference between this area and the Downtown and that a pilot study approach made eminent sense. Ms. Kara Harrison appeared as a delegation to applaud the diversity, spirit and passion of the Cedar Hills community she experienced while growing up there. She commented on the community rebirth that has taken place and on the importance of street lighting to further this neighbourhood transformation. No other delegations were registered regarding this matter. The Committee then raised numerous questions which were primarily responded to by Ms. Gunz. The questions touched on the following issues: · financing alternatives · adhering to the Lighting Study recommendations · consideration of Church Street as part of the Downtown · lighting improvements required to other streets adjacent to the Downtown PW-01-045 - CHURCH STREET LIGHTING (CONT’D) 1. PUBLIC WORKS & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 9, 2001- 33 -CITY OF KITCHENER · question of precedence · lighting standards not yet applied for areas outside the Downtown · the prohibitively high cost of City-wide street lighting upgrade measured against other spending priorities · use of these three streets as a pilot project as a basis for later evaluation An intensive discussion then took place between Committee members and Messrs. L. Lynch and B. Stanley. Questions raised dealt with: · pilot project evaluation · scheduled upgrades to nearby streets · unaffordability of upgrades · project timing · $67,000. upgrade (option #1) · future intent with respect to the Lighting Design Study and required process/resources · City-wide residential lighting standards · possible design and installation of only the conduit and bases for the neighbourhood link lighting standard · impact of design delay on the project · financing scenarios of the neighbourhood link (option #2) if it was to proceed Councillor C. Weylie advised that she was prepared to move a motion upgrading the three streets under option #1 along with wiring and pole bases under option #2 to be installed this year and the poles and lighting fixtures be installed in 2002. The motion and its implications were discussed in detail as to engineering and financial considerations. Councillor Weylie’s motion was put to a lost. recorded vote and Councillor C. Weylie voted in favour of the motion while Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors J. Smola, J. Zeigler, G. Lorentz, B. Vrbanovic and M. Galloway voted in the negative. Councillor B. Vrbanovic then proposed a motion to upgrade all three streets to the residential standard and design and install underground wiring only but not provide bases for the poles, which could be installed in the future. It was agreed to split the motion into two parts and a recorded vote was taken on each. On motion by Councillor B. Vrbanovic – it was resolved: “That existing street lighting on Eby, Church and St. George Streets be upgraded at an estimated cost of $67,000., to the ‘residential’ standard set out in the MacDonald / Gabriel ‘Lighting Design Study’ by retrofitting existing fixtures with metal halide fixtures to the standards provided in the Study, as part of the reconstruction of these streets.” This part of the motion was carried unanimously. The remainder of Councillor B. Vrbanovic’s motion to design and install underground wiring lost. without pole bases was put to a recorded vote and Councillor C. Weylie and B. Vrbanovic voted in favour while Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors J. Smola, J. Zeigler, G. Lorentz and M . Galloway voted in the negative. The meeting then recessed at 10:45 a.m. and reconvened at 3:46 p.m. with all members present. The following officials were also present: Messrs. R.W. Pritchard, D. Mansell, J. McBride, P. Wetherup and L.W. Neil. PW-01-032 – TRAFFIC CONTROL – VARIOUS LOCATIONS – CITY WIDE 2. The Committee considered Public Works Department report PW-01-032 dated March 26, 2001 dealing with recommended traffic control measures at various locations City wide. PW-01-032 – TRAFFIC CONTROL – VARIOUS LOCATIONS – CITY WIDE (CONT’D) 2. PUBLIC WORKS & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 9, 2001- 34 -CITY OF KITCHENER On motion by Councillor G. Lorentz – it was resolved: “That yield controls be converted to stop controls at the following locations: · Talbot Street at Patricia Avenue (facing northbound traffic) · Adelaide Street at Patricia Avenue (facing northbound traffic) · Circa Drive at Wellington Street (facing westbound traffic); and, That yield controls be removed from the following locations: · Carwood Avenue at Carwood Avenue (facing southbound traffic) · Courtland Avenue at Park Street (facing westbound traffic) · Shirley Avenue at Riverbend Drive (facing southbound traffic); and, That a stop control be installed on Carwood Avenue at Carwood Avenue (facing westbound traffic); and further, That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly.” PW-01-038 – INTERSECTION CONTROL – VANIER DRIVE / WALTON AVENUE 3. The Committee was in receipt of Public Works Department report PW-01-038 dated March 28, 2001 dealing with the recommended intersection control measures for Vanier Drive and Walton Avenue. On motion by Councillor B. Vrbanovic– it was resolved: “That an all-way stop be installed at the intersection of Vanier Drive/Walton Avenue; and further, That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly.” PW-01-039 – ON-STREET PARKING – BELMONT AVENUE EAST 4. The Committee considered Public Works Department report PW-01-039 dated March 29, 2001 dealing with a recommended parking prohibition on the south side of Belmont Avenue. On motion by Councillor G. Lorentz – it was resolved: “That parking be prohibited on the south side of Belmont Avenue East from Queen’s Boulevard to a point 156 metres east thereof; and further, That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly.” PW-01-041 – SCHOOL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY – GLENCAIRN PUBLIC SCHOOL 5. The Committee was in receipt of Public Works Department report PW-01-041 dated March 29, 2001 which addresses school pedestrian safety for students attending Glencairn Public School located on Erinbrook Drive. On motion by Councillor M. Galloway – it was resolved: “That stopping be prohibited between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays on PW-01-041 – SCHOOL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY – GLENCAIRN PUBLIC SCHOOL (CONT’D) 5. PUBLIC WORKS & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 9, 2001- 35 -CITY OF KITCHENER the east side of Erinbrook Drive from Faircrest Court to a point 35 metres north thereof; and further, That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly.” PW-01-042 – SCHOOL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY – TRILLIUM PUBLIC SCHOOL 6. The Committee was in receipt of Public Works Department report PW-01-042 dated March 29, 2001 dealing with school pedestrian safety of students attending Trillium Public School on Laurentian Drive. It was noted in the report that in September of 1998, two school crossings on Laurentian Drive at Trillium Public School were consolidated into one central crossing for a number of reasons as listed in the report. The experience since that change was documented in the report which notes that as a result of studies that have taken place an adult crossing guard is not warranted. Councillor M. Galloway pointed out that there was an ongoing problem of vehicles stopping adjacent to the school and that the parent Council has requested an adult crossing guard to alleviate the problems between two nearby schools. Mr. J. McBride noted that there were many schools with similar conditions that did not fully meet the requirement for placement of a crossing guard. He indicated that staff could consider the crossing guard request in conjunction with a number of other locations that are being investigated and provide a report at a future meeting. Councillor B. Vrbanovic supported the recommendation in the report and suggested staff be asked to monitor the location and report following the end of the school term. Councillor M. Galloway questioned how much enforcement would take place if the staff recommendation was implemented and Mr. McBride advised that staff would blitz the location and then undertake enforcement at least once every two weeks. He noted that during the first 2 days of the blitz staff would warn motorists to bring about compliance and then undertake ticketing. Following this discussion, Councillor M. Galloway agreed to withdraw an earlier motion to add a crossing guard and instead indicated he would agree to the staff recommendation provided the location was added to a priority list of other possible locations where an adult crossing guard might be implemented with the list to be reviewed at the end of the current school year. On motion by Councillor M. Galloway – it was resolved: “That the ‘no parking area’ on the east side of Laurentian Drive from the northern property line of 61 Laurentian Drive to a point 40 metres north thereof be replaced with ‘no stopping anytime’ signs with no by-law amendment being needed as the general provisions of the Uniform Traffic By-law cover this change; and further, That this location be added to a priority list of other locations where adult crossing guard protection might be implemented and that the list be reviewed at the end of the current school year.” CITY OF KITCHENER POPULATION ROAD SIGNS 7. In response to Councillor G. Lorentz, Mr. J. McBride advised that the Region of Waterloo has sent a letter to the Ministry of Transportation requesting that it update population signs on Highways under its jurisdiction that relate to the City of Kitchener. ADJOURNMENT 8. On motion, the meeting adjourned at 4:07 p.m. L.W. Neil, AMCT Assistant City Clerk